This game is a clear GOTY 2025 recipient, hands down, without question. So much so, it's making me want a JRPG that's very much inspired by The Incal, Moebius artwork and all.

[mtw3660]

It's not even close to hyperbole to say that this game is a genuine love letter to the classic JRPGs of old. I'm talking Final Fantasy VI & IX, Chrono Trigger, Legend of Dragoon (which is an obvious inspiration from the combat system btw), even Xenogears with the whole god killing aspect (the Paintress IS a god-like figure after all).

Which really gets the nogin a joggin', how badass would a JRPG that's very much inspired by the works of Jean "Moebius" Giraud become? Granted, there'd be some guest artists from Japan of course, especially the likes of a one Makoto Kobayashi, who is an absolute Moebius stan if I ever saw one from his artwork alone (Dragon's Heaven is such eye candy, go watch it ASAP), so I'd totally be down for Kobayashi-san doing the work for some of the mechanical designs in the Moebius JRPG.

Which begs the question, any chance we'll be getting a Moebius JRPG someday, or is it just a pipe dream from some no name weeb?

[Kangaxx]

Obviously it's not a JRPG. And it's definitely not like Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy with its complex and interesting ATB battle system. Only common thing with the Legend of Dragoon are QTE which are annoying, tedious and it's a lazy game design in general.
And of course Legend of Dragoon didn't invented QTE. Moreover, QTE are uncommon for JRPGs (and RPGs and other games with combat system). It's more common for story based games without combat system at all (like Fahrenheit, Detroit: Become Human etc) because it's simple and lazy.

This game has an interesting story and good characters but with such lazy and dull combat system it's just unpleasant to play. And that's a pity.

[blossom]

If it's not a JRPG, explain to me how it is instead a WRPG/CRPG. Go on, I'll wait.

Just because the genre name is stupid and needs to be renamed in 2025 doesn't mean a game is not a JRPG. (My proposed solution is something like western styled RPGs are dynamic RPGs and Japanese styled RPGs are scripted RPGs. Not the best names, but it's a start, in an attempt to highlight how the vast majority of JRPGs have a linear, character-driven plot whereas the vast majority of WRPGs have a reactive, choice-driven plot.)

[Kangaxx]

Originally posted by blossom:

If it's not a JRPG, explain to me how it is instead a WRPG/CRPG. Go on, I'll wait.

There is a big topic with several pages of discussion. Yo can read everything there. To be short - there lots of different JRPGs from classic party turn based Chrono Trigger to more souls-like solo real time FFXIII-3. So if we start calling every game we like a JRPG because it have some elements similar to some JRPGs, we can call almost every RPG a JRPG.
So as for me it's simple - if it's look like JRPG, feels like JRPG, plays like JRPG and made by Japanese studio - then it's JRPG.
Expedition with it's flags (bonfires), atmosphere, role system with manually rising characteristics and letters on weapon, more looks like some turn-based crippled souls-like with QTE instead of combat system.
And for anyone who reads with closed eyes - I know that Expedition is not a souls-like game.

[Brocknoth]

I humbly agree, it is most certainly GOTY or RPG of the year material. I'm really happy for Sandfall. They deserve the success.

[blossom]

Originally posted by Kangaxx:

Originally posted by blossom:

If it's not a JRPG, explain to me how it is instead a WRPG/CRPG. Go on, I'll wait.

There is a big topic with several pages of discussion. Yo can read everything there. To be short - there lots of different JRPGs from classic party turn based Chrono Trigger to more souls-like solo real time FFXIII-3. So if we start calling every game we like a JRPG because it have some elements similar to some JRPGs, we can call almost every RPG a JRPG.
So as for me it's simple - it's look like JRPG, feels like JRPG, plays like JRPG and made by Japanese studio - then it's JRPG.
Expedition with it's flags (bonfires), atmosphere, role system with manually rising characteristics and letters on weapon, more looks like some turn-based crippled souls-like with QTE instead of combat system.
And for anyone who reads with closed eyes - I know that Expedition is not a souls-like game.

So you're implying it's not an RPG of any kind? That's wild.

[Kangaxx]

Originally posted by blossom:

So you're implying it's not an RPG of any kind? That's wild.

It's not a JRPG and not an Action RPG (souls-like). It's just a party turn-based RPG. But it has some elements from souls-likes, from interactive movie games (QTE) etc.

[blossom]

It is a JRPG, given the terms currently available and accepted by gamers. If this game is not a JRPG, neither is Paper Mario or Legend of Dragoon.

[HBIMajorV]

Look it's good. Really good in fact, but kcd2 is better, I'll go a step further, last year lies of P came from a studio in a similar situation and I'd say it's better. This game has a lot going right for it but crowning it goty is a bridge too far for me personally.

[Kangaxx]

Originally posted by blossom:

It is a JRPG, given the terms currently available and accepted by gamers. If this game is not a JRPG, neither is Paper Mario or Legend of Dragoon.

I didn't play Paper Mario but the only common thing with the Legend of Dragoon is QTE.
If you like labels so much and label "RPG" isn't enough for you - call it souls-like. It's a bit dumb, I know, but this game has more common with souls-likes than with an JRPGs.
Unless of course, we don't compare Expedition with every other JRPG (which a hella different games). But in that case, as I said earlier, we can call every RPG a JRPG.

Originally posted by blossom:

It is a JRPG, given the terms currently available and accepted by gamers

I'm sorry what gamers? No one asked me. Or there are some elite Council of Gamers and they are some highest authority. Never heard about them, sry.

[blossom]

No. We can't call every RPG a JRPG. If I put Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy X in front of you, and you played both of them for even a couple hours, you'd be able to tell pretty damn quickly they have different philosophies about game design. Square Enix does not want the player to have freedom of choice. They are guiding the player through an intended narrative. Larian, on the other hand, is giving you freedom to influence a narrative. There is no mistaking Planescape Torment, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, or Fallout New Vegas for a JRPG because of this different focus on storytelling.

[Kangaxx]

Originally posted by blossom:

There is no mistaking Planescape Torment, Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines, or Fallout New Vegas for a JRPG because of this different focus on storytelling.

Funny thing, but back in that old times people compared PST with JRPGs. Because plot, characters etc. History is spiral).

Originally posted by blossom:

If I put Baldur's Gate 3 and Final Fantasy X in front of you, and you played both of them for even a couple hours, you'd be able to tell pretty damn quickly they have different philosophies about game design

And if i put FFXIII-3 for example? If not anime style - you'd never call it a JRPG. But it's a JRPG).

Originally posted by blossom:

Square Enix does not want the player to have freedom of choice

And here we have Chrono Cross that has more variability than some classical CRPGs like BG1 or IWD.
And that's a problem. There're lots of JRPGs and they are so different. Man, JRPGs even have their horror franchise Parasite Eve).

[SkySymphony]

Not even close, Just a good game

[blossom]

Originally posted by Kangaxx:

And that's a problem. There're lots of JRPGs and they are so different.

I don't follow your logic 100% for some of this, especially the part about Parasite Eve, but if anything you're proving my point that we need new genre names instead of something as laughably simple as "This is from Japan therefore, it is a JRPG. This is not from Japan, therefore it is a WRPG."

[Kangaxx]

Originally posted by blossom:

Originally posted by Kangaxx:

And that's a problem. There're lots of JRPGs and they are so different.

I don't follow your logic 100% for some of this, especially the part about Parasite Eve, but if anything you're proving my point that we need new genre names instead of something as laughably simple as "This is from Japan therefore, it is a JRPG. This is not from Japan, therefore it is a WRPG."

Well, Parasite Eve is a JRPG, And it's a horror, so it's unique pretty one-of-a-kind game.
Simple answers not necessarily wrong.
As for new genres - I don't mind. We have completely useless "immersive sim", and it definitely won't be worse than that.

[Kangaxx]

If I wanted to farm jesters - I'd create a topic.
And what lots of luck do you mean? Two jesters from angry kids who can't live in the world where someone dares not to love their favorite game? And they gave me jesters not because of a genre, but because I called QTE a lazy and trashy system.
Most people don't really care about genres. Me too, to be honest, I'm just in a chatty mood. Also I had lots of these genre fights long time ago. You know - the eternal fight: "Is Diablo a RPG or not".